A spark from a nearby chimney started a massive blaze which destroyed part of a Te Puke sawmill.
About 35 firefighters from Te Puke, Papamoa, Greerton and Mount Maunganui were called to fight the blaze at Pukepine Sawmills on Jellico St about 6.40pm yesterday.
Te Puke fire chief Glenn Williams
said the first fire crew arrived to find part of the plant well ablaze.
"There was a saw dust delivery hopper that caught fire and an adjacent storage building and part of a conveyor system that delivers sawdust to the hopper," he said.
Mr Williams said there was no one on site at the time of the fire.